Chapter 10
Aveline’s POVE
My husband suffers from major depressive disorder.
Just keeping up with his meds and therapy burns through over a thousand bucks every month.
For his treatments, I juggle four jobs a day, working through the nights like they were daylight.
Our son, worried sick about me, started helping after school–picking up bottles with me.
We were dirt poor, stretching every single dollar until it nearly tore in half. But not once did we ever complain.
Thank heavens, one day, I landed a temp job–serving at the birthday party for the godson of the richest man in the city. One night’s pay? A whooping 280 bucks!
My son tagged along. “There’s gotta be a goldmine of bottles at a rich kid’s party!”
That night, I weaved through a crowd of high society, balancing a tray in my hands. Meanwhile, my little boy bent over and over, picking up bottles at the guests‘ feet.
To my surprise, when I looked up… there was Wiley Rourke–standing in the middle of the party, looking nothing like a depressed man.
The same man who was supposed to be in a therapist’s office… was handing over the keys to a multi–million estate to his first love’s son.>> “Welcome, everyone, to my godson’s birthday party!”
With a startling clang, the tray slipped from my hands, and glass shattered across the floor.
My son’s small frame trembled. Struggling to get the words out, he whispered, “Mom… that man. He looks just like Dad.”%
‘Not just like him–it’s exactly him!‘2
But not the version of Wiley we knew–moody and gloomy. This man was glowing. Joy radiated off him.
If I hadn’t recognized the woman clinging to his arm, I might’ve believed it was just someone who looked like him.
That woman was Severine Stroud–my husband’s first love.”
He used to keep her photo locked away in his safe.
The crash of the glass drew everyone’s eyes.”
Wiley turned to look, too, but before he could see me, the event manager stormed over and shoved me to the floor.
“You can’t even hold a tray? Stupid! Hurry up and clean that mess!“%
My knee slammed into the shards, and blood instantly stained the tiles.
Beau quickly dropped his bottles and rushed to help me up.
“Mom! You’re bleeding! We need to go to the hospital!”
I looked back toward Wiley, but he had already turned his back to us.
One of his hands held his ex. The other gently guided her son to slice a 10–layer cake.
The three of them looked so sweet… like they were a real family.
But just an hour earlier, Beau and I were the ones who dropped Wiley off at the hospital.
Before we left, Wiley even reminded us to take care of ourselves and not overwork.
My heart felt like it was being wrung out–the pain stabbing deep.Z
What I thought was our happy little family–it was nothing but a lie.
And the one behind it all? The man Beau and I both loved more than anyone.%
I brushed my hand over Beau’s sunburnt, cracked little cheeks. My eyes burned.
‘Maybe Wiley forgot… that today is his real son’s birthday, too.“%
We couldn’t even afford a cupcake. Every cent had gone to a sickness that, it turns out, wasn’t even real.
“Don’t be sad, Mom, Beau whispered, comforting me while wiping my tears. “It’s probably just a coincidence. Dad’s still in the hospital.“% But the way his little fists clenched said everything he wouldn’t.
Back at home, Beau gently plucked the glass from my knee, wrapped my knee in a bandage, and blew on it to keep it from stinging. But none of that pain compared to the one in my chest
Just then, the door creaked open–Wiley walked in.
My son ran over like a little puppy, throwing his arms around his dad.
As always, Wiley took a step hack, dodging the hug.
I used to tell myself he was just too depressed to accept affection.
But now… all I could see was the way he had held his first love’s son at the party. How he kissed that boy’s cheek. The memory made my stomach twist #
Beau didn’t react much. I guess his disappointment had long since hardened into numbness.$
It was then that Wiley’s eyes caught the bandage on my knee X
“You hurt your leg?
I gave a faint “Mm” and tugged my skirt down to cover it. And then I asked, “Today is your son’s birthday. Did you get him a gift?“%
744 PM & d
Wiley raised a brow, pulled a fancy box from behind his back, and handed it to Beau.%
“Got you this birthday cake on the way home. Open it “%
For a second, I was stunned He usually locked himself away on our son’s birthday, using his depression as an excuse. But this time he actually brought something for Beau
For a moment, I hesitated to question Wiley 1⁄2
‘Beau loves his dad so much. If Wiley was willing to love our son back…. maybe I could try to forget what I saw earlier
But the moment we saw what was inside the box, Beau and I both froze.
‘A single slice from that ten–layer cake at his ex’s son’s party!‘
Rage quickly surged through me. I had to dig my nails into my palms just to stop myself from smashing that cake right into Wiley’s face, Beau’s eyes went red. He closed the box slowly and said hoarsely, “Dad, I don’t like this cake. Can we get a different one?“W
Wiley frowned, ready to scold the birthday boy–but I cut in first.”
“Mom will take you to get a new one.”
I grabbed Beau’s hand. As I turned to leave, I caught a glimpse of Wiley’s face darkening.
“We don’t have money. You should be grateful you even have cake. Why be so picky?”
Before I could argue, he slammed his door shut–starting yet another round of silent treatment.”
I’ve lost count of how many times he’d done this since getting “depressed.”W
Worried, Beau clutched the box and walked back to his dad’s door.”
“Dad, don’t be mad,” my boy said sweetly. “I don’t need a new cake. This one’s fine!”
There was no response from inside the room. After a few seconds, just when I thought Wiley wouldn’t say a thing, his voice came through.
“Didn’t you always want to go to the amusement park? I’ll take you next week.”
Hope flickered instantly in Beau’s eyes.
All he ever wanted was a day at the park with his parents like a normal kid and take happy photos.
I couldn’t bear to crush his dream, so I stayed quiet.
But that night, his stomach started aching–cold sweat soaked his whole body.
I freaked out, banged on Wiley’s door, and asked him to drive us to the hospital.#
Ten minutes later, he pulled up an old van downstairs.
Carrying my weakening son on my back, I staggered down the stairs.
But just as we were about to get in, Wiley’s phone rang.
His face shifted from calm to grim in an instant.
“Something urgent came up, he said flatly. “You take him yourself.“}
And just like that, he drove off.”
I stood there, staring at the van disappearing down the road.#
Did he forget? There’s no public transport around here. No way to get a cab this late at night‘
Feeling my son’s breathing grow weaker against my back, I bit my lip hard and started walking–ten fucking kilometers, on foot, to the nearest hospital!
After Beau was finally attended by a doctor, I pulled out my phone to check the time.
At the same time, a notification popped up–a friend request.#
I clicked it open%
Her face stared back at me–Wiley’s first love.
Seconds later, she posted a new Story &
It was a photo of her son being held by a man–the man’s face wasn’t visible, but I knew who he was just by the look of his ring on his finger.
It was the same cheap three–dollar wedding ring Wiley and I had bought when we couldn’t afford anything better.
Severine wrote a caption &
Having a dad is such a blessing! My son scraped his knee a little, and his dad rushed him to the hospital and even got him a VIP room!! Llooked at my pale son and then at the crumpled bills in my palm #
Whatever hope I had left for Wiley It shattered completely
Once I was sure Beau was stable, I dialed a number
“Hi I’d like to ask about the process for filing a divorce.”
